Rectal Carcinoid

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the clinical charateristics, surgical treatment and outcome of carcinoid tumors of the rectum. METHODS: A retrospective review of the charts of all patients treated for rectal carcinoid tumors at Kangbuk Samsung Medical Center between Jan 1989 and April 1998. Thirteen patients with rectal carcinoids tumors were treated. Follow-up data, histopathological information and surgical procedures were obtained from case notes. RESULTS: There were 10 men and 3 women. The ages ranged from 28 to 60 years (mean 41.1 years for all, 43.8 years for men and 32 years for women). Eight patients (61.5%) had no symptoms. Of the five patients, four complained of rectal bleeding (30.8%), and one complained of defecational difficulty (7.7%). Size of rectal carcinoid tumor was less than 1 cm in 7 patients (53.8%), between 1 cm and 2 cm in 2 patients (15.4%), in four patients (30.8%) larger than 2 cm. Three patients were treated in Abdominoperineal resection. Two patients underwent stapled low anterior resection. The remaining 8 patients underwent conservative resection (3 colonoscopic polypectomy and electrocauterization, 2 colonoscopic snaring biopsy, 2 transanal resection and one Mason's operation). The depth of invasion was contained within sutmucosa in 3 patients. Liver metastasis was found in 2 patients. Average follow-up time was 35.6 months. Two patients died of mutiple mestastasis (liver, bone, peritoneum) 9 and 30months later. CONCLUSION: We concluded that tumors smaller than 1 cm could be managed by local treatment whereas larger than 2 cm should be managed by radical treatment.